Everyone that owns a car in the United Kingdom is required to keep their car in the best working order whilst it is being driven on the road. In order to ensure that cars are in full, working order, MOTs are carried out on them at testing centres once each year.
MOTs are tests are carried out on all cars in the UK, with a few exceptions here and there. They are carried out to ensure that the cars driven on British roads are safe to be driven. Cars that don't pass MOTs inspections are not legally safe to be driven on roads. They won't be legally safe to be driven until any repair work has been carried out.
Motorists receive certificates after their vehicles have passed MOTs. All MOTs cover various safety criteria, as well as a number of environmental standards. MOTs are required for all vehicles that are over three years old; however, there are some exceptions for cars that are used for public transportation purposes.
When your car passes its MOTs, you'll receive a certificate confirming that it has been tested by a professional - at an MOT centre or at a certified service station or garage. It will also signify that your car is in full, working order - both mechanically and environmentally. Once it has been adjudged to adhere to the road safety standards - currently in place -you'll be perfectly safe to drive your car on British roads and motorways.
This, however, doesn't mean that your car will be safe to drive for the duration that the MOT certificate is in force. Your certificate is also not a guarantee of the overall mechanical condition that your vehicle is in. Typically, most MOTs don't cover the condition of the clutch, engine or gearbox.
During MOTs the mechanic, or service center professional, will take a look at some of the most important components on your vehicle - in order to determine whether they meet the current regulations. They will inspect the body structure of your car and other general items to make sure that it is free of corrosion or any other type of damage, which could be considered dangerous, such as sharp edges. The speedometer will need to work correctly and all engine mountings will also need to be in tact.
Your fuel system will also be checked during MOTs to see if there are any leaks in the system. The mechanic will check to make sure that all pipes and hoses are secure; they'll also see that the fuel caps seal tightly. The fuel cap will have to be opened during the test, so you'll need to ensure that you have a key available for them to use. They'll also check out your exhaust emissions and exhaust system to make sure that all of the requirements are being properly met.
Although just a few of the things inspected during MOTs, there are a many more - albeit minor areas in comparison. Knowing which areas are going to be inspected during this test beforehand will enable you to ensure that they are in the best possible condition -giving you a much better chance of passing your MOT first time around.
MOTs are carried out on a yearly basis by a mechanic. This article examines the areas of a car that are inspected during a typical MOT.